Skanör: Wet Heathland, Coastal Trails and Local History

Wet heathland and trails as defining features of Skanör

The Skanörs ljung nature reserve is Sweden’s largest wet heathland. The Skåneleden trail runs through the northern and southern parts of the nature reserve.

The Skåneleden Skanör–Falsterbo section is a 9 km hiking trail between Skanör and Falsterbo. Unlike the trail through Skanörs ljung, this route connects two towns. The 9 km figure refers to the section between Skanör and Falsterbo, not to the route through the wet heathland. When choosing between the two routes, different reference points therefore need to be taken into account: here, Skanör and Falsterbo are the fixed endpoints, while there, the northern and southern parts of the nature reserve are the reference points. The choice of route therefore comes down to a 9 km connection between two towns or a trail running through two parts of the reserve.

A former railway embankment also runs through the Skanörs ljung nature reserve. The former railway line now serves as a walking and cycling path between Höllviken and Skanör. The Skåneleden, by contrast, is designed as a hiking trail. This gives you two clearly distinct options for active days: hiking on the Skåneleden, or walking and cycling along the former railway embankment. The route between Höllviken and Skanör combines its former railway function with its present-day use for walks and bike rides.

Two different coastal landscapes

Northeast of Skanör, on the western shore of Höllviken, lies the Skanör-Höll nature reserve. It preserves a very well-preserved and characteristic remnant of the coastal grazing landscape that once extended along Skåne’s flat coastal areas. The two nature reserves differ in their landscape type: Skanör-Höll preserves a characteristic remnant of the coastal grazing landscape that was once more widespread, while the focus in Skanörs ljung is on wet heathland. The former landscape extended along the flat coastal areas of Skåne, whereas Skanör-Höll now preserves a single surviving remnant of it.

The town’s history includes Skanör Town Hall and Skanör Church. Skanör Town Hall, Skanörs rådhus, was completed in 1777. Skanör Church, Skanörs kyrka, is dedicated to Saint Olaf. This provides two different historical points of interest for a tour of the town: the Town Hall has a recorded completion year, while the church has a dedication to Saint Olaf. The year 1777 belongs to the Town Hall, while the dedication to Saint Olaf belongs to the church.

A regular event in Skanör harbour

The Sillamarknaden is part of the local annual calendar. It takes place every year on the first weekend in July in Skanör harbour; its tradition dates back to 1968.

For further orientation in the destination area, you can also visit Vastra Ingelstad, Vellinge, Höllviken and Falsterbo.

More about the destination

Useful information for planning your trip:

Skanör Falsterbo.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Vellinge.